Sunday, October 30 at 7:00pm

Wednesday, November 2 at 7:00pm

The health talk titled “Choices” will last about 30 minutes.  There will be plenty of time for discussion and maybe even a sample of a healthy snack!

Hope to see you again at our next event!

Thanks for having us!

What is all the hoopla about?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin found in fatty fish such as salmon, fish liver oils, eggs, some dairy products, and some mushrooms.  The vitamin is also added to many processed foods like milk (dairy and non-dairy), yogurt, and cereals.

The best source of usable vitamin D is ultraviolet B rays from the sun (Hence the happy picture of a sun on this post).  In short, the sunlight penetrates unexposed skin and converts a vitamin D precursor into one form of the vitamin that the liver and kidneys convert further for use in the body.  The vitamin D found in foods and supplements require the same conversions to be active.  Research suggests that 10-30 minutes of sun exposure per day should be enough for a healthy individual to produce enough vitamin D.

The primary function of vitamin D is to promote calcium absorption in the digestive tract and to help regulate blood levels of calcium and phosphorus.  Through this activity, proper vitamin D levels ensure adequate bone density and appropriate muscle contraction.  Recent studies suggest that the vitamin may play a roll in the prevention or treatment of high blood pressure, osteoporosis, cancer, glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and some autoimmune diseases.

A vitamin deficiency can occur due to insufficient sun exposure, insufficient intake of the vitamin from the diet, in adequate absorption during digestion, or inability to convert vitamin D to active forms by the liver and/or kidneys.  Some people are more at risk for deficiencies:

• people who get too little sun exposure
• dark skinned individuals (melanin blocks some of the UVB rays)
• older adults
• breastfed infants (depends on the amount of vitamin D produced by the mother)
• obese people (vitamin D is stored readily in fat and difficult to release for use)

The bottom line: Vitamin D is important for bone and muscle health and may help with the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions.  Two groups, especially, should evaluate their vitamin D levels on a regular basis:

1. those concerned about prevented osteoporosis
2. pregnant or breastfeeding mothers

Vitamin D, taken along with Calcium and Magnesium, has been shown to prevent and help treat osteomalacia, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.  Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are building a new life and providing nutrition for two beings.  If a mother does not take care to provide adequate nutrition and supplementation for herself, then the milk that is produced will lack what the child requires to grow properly.  Adequate nutrition and supplementation also prevents depletion of the mother’s vitamin and mineral stores.

Contact the office to discuss your specific needs with Dr. Ellis.

Mondays: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Tuesdays: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Wednesdays:  3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Fridays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Saturdays: By appointment only

Please note these changes when scheduling your next appointment.

Dr. Ellis and family are doing well.  Starting today, Dr. Ellis will be on maternity leave for the next 2-3 weeks.  Dr. Tim Dinh will be available to take care of any patients that have a need prior to her return to the office.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ellis is available during regular weekly work hours.  Saturday hours have been postponed for the time being.  We hope to begin Saturday office hours and educational events as soon as possible.

Please come by the office any time.

Chiropractic Pathways has a new patient referral program.  The program is pretty simple and benefits both the person doing the referral and the new patient:

• Referring patient- gets a $30 discount toward care
• New patient gets a $30 discount toward initial exam and consultation

Family members are included in this referral program.  The only rule is that it must be a new patient to the office and that new patient must complete an exam, consult, and first adjustment.  For most patients that will be two visits.

We are also planning on doing a drawing every 2 months or so for gift certificates to local businesses.  As the referrals increase, we will plan to increase the frequency of the drawings.  For every two new patients referred to the office, the patient will get one entry for the nearest drawing.  Ideas for possible gift certificates are welcome.  We are looking at local food and entertainment establishments at this time.

Thanks

Rush. Rush. Rush.

Everything about today’s society creates stress, stress hormones, and anxiety.  Even most people’s chosen form of recreation at the end of the day, the television, does not inspire rest and relaxation.  While the body may be at rest, the TV stimulates the eyes, ears, and brain.

In the midst all this activity, many of us have difficulty relaxing at the end of the day.  Hence, we go to bed too late and start the next day altogether too early for comfort.  What percentage of people actually gets 7-9 hours of sleep per night?  If the average, healthy person requires 7-9 hours of deep, uninterrupted sleep, one would expect that the pregnant woman would require more.  (We are growing a whole other person inside)

Sleep is essential for healing, growth, hormone balance, and immune strength.  Once one slips below 6 hours per night, the risk of hormone imbalance and immune weakness grows greatly.  When pregnant, lack of sleep can contribute to that horrible thing that many refer to as “baby brain.”  The most notable trait of “baby brain” is memory problems.  Physical and mental fatigue are other common complaints of pregnancy that can be relieved with proper nutrition and sleep.

Here are some goals for sleep during pregnancy:

1. Sleep when you are tired.  That means take short naps whenever possible.  Take advantage of every opportunity.  This is the one time in your life where people will not give you a hard time about napping.
2. Go to bed at a reasonable hour.  You can live without that last TV show.
3. Avoid any foods or drinks that tend to disturb your sleep.
4. Daily light to moderate exercise.

That is all for today.  Please let contact us if you have any specific questions.